Power-driven implement with detachable power, control and guiding unit



Sept. 19, 1961 B. L. ERTSGAARD EIAL 3,000,224

, POWER-DRIVEN IMPLEMENT WITH DETACI-IABLE POWER, CONTROL AND GUIDING UNIT Original Filed Oct. 4, 1954 United States Patent 3,000,224 POWER-DRIVEN IMPLEMENT WITH DETACH- ABLE POWER, CONTROL AND GUIDING UNIT Byron L. Ertsgaard, Excelsior, and Stanley V. Sonmore, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Tom Manufacturing Corporation, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Original application Oct. 4, 1954, Ser. No. 459,922, now Patent No. 2,904,287, dated Sept. 15, 1959. Divided and this application July 18, 1958, Ser. No. 749,472

6 Claims. (CI. 74-16) This invention relates to power-driven machines. More particularly, it relates to machines adapted to be driven by a motor through belt connections.

This is a divisional application of my co-pending application entitled Interchangeable Motor Mounting, Serial Number 459,922, filed October 4, 1954, now Patent Number 2,904,287.

In recent years it has become fairly common for the home owner to own a number of power-driven smaller machines such as a lawn mower, a snow plow or snow remover, -a sprayer, a leaf mulcher or the like, through the use of which he maintains the neat appearance of his premises. A very substantial portion of the cost of each of such machines is the cost of the motor which is provided as a source of driving power or prime mover. Accordingly, if at all possible, it is highly desirable to provide means whereby a single motor might be made readily interchangeable so that it could be quickly and easily removed from one such machine and attached to another in driving relation to thereby eliminate the need for all but a single motor. Our invention is designed to provide means whereby this goal may be accomplished.

In addition, some such machines have their powerreceiving connections necasan'ly disposed at elevations substantially below the uppermost portions of the machine. This makes it extremely difiicult to connect and detach a motor relative to such a machine because the belt must be stretched substantially in order to get it into encircling position relative to the power-receiving pulley of the machine and the power transmitting or drive pulley of the motor. Our invention is designed to facilitate such a connection.

It is a general object of our invention to provide a novel and improved mounting for an interchangeable motor to facilitate ready attachment and detachment of the motor to a power-driven type of machine, the mounting being both simple and inexpensive in construction and operation.

A more specific object is to provide a novel and improved means for readily attaching and detaching a single motor to a number of different machines through the use of a single and inexpensive cooperating member mounted upon each of such machines and a cooperating engaging member carried by the motor which permits connection and easy disposition and connection of the motor and any one of the machines in power-transmitting-receiving relation.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved mounting for an interchangeable motor constructed to effectively connect such a motor to any one of a number of power-driven machines with a minimum of effort, time and inconvenience and to, at the same time, facilitate the accomplishing of the power-transmitting connection.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

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FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a reel-type lawn mower with a motor connected thereto through the use of one embodiment of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of our invention without the motor or the mower attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the same;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the lower of the two plates which comprises our invention, as shown; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the upper of the two plates which embody our invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, one embodiment of our invention may include a pair of plate members indicated generally by the letters A and B. The plate member A is a flat plate with an open central portion indicated by the numeral 6. This plate member A, as best shown in FIG. 4, has a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 7 by means of which the plate member may be fixed by bolts (not shown) to the frame 8 of the lawn mower indicated generally as M. It will be noted, as shown in FIG. 1, that the plate member A in use is superimposed upon the frame 8 of the mower M and is fixedly secured thereto in any conventional manner through the use of the bolts hereinbefore mentioned, the bolts extending upwardly from the frame 8 and through the slots 7.

As shown in FIG. 4, the plate member A has a forward end portion 9 and a rearward end portion 10. Extending forwardly from the forward end portion 9 at the opposite forward corners thereof is a pair of channel members 11 and 12. These channel members 11 and 12 extend transversely to the plate member A and the channel of each faces rearwardly, as best shown in FIG. 2. Each of the channel members 11 and 12 has a rearwardly extending overhanging lip 11a and 12a. Mounted upon the plate A and extending upwardly from the left hand side thereof as viewed from the rear, is a pair of upwardly extending pivot shoulders 13 and 14. The pivot shoulder 13 is connected to the channel member 11 and extends rearwardly therefrom along the side of the plate A. The pivot shoulder 14 is positioned adjacent the rear end portion of the plate member and extends upwardly therefrom, as best shown in FIG. 2. Extending upwardly from the opposite side of the channel member 11 is an upstanding wall member 15, which together with the pivot shoulder 13 forms an open type of enclosure indicated as 16. The channel member 12 has an upstanding wall member 17 and 18 at each of its ends to also form an open type of enclosure indicated as 19.

Mounted upon the rear end port-ion 10 of the plate member A is an upstanding set screw type clamping mechanism indicated generally as C. This clamping mechanism C is comprised of an internally threaded sleeve member 20 which is supported by support structure 21 in elevated relation to the plate member A and is directed downwardly and forwardly, as best shown in FIG. 2. Mounted within the sleeve member 20 is an externally threaded pin 22 which threadedly engages the sleeve 20 and has an adjustment knob 23 at its upper and rear end so that it may be turned to move longitudinally of the sleeve 20.

The plate member B also has an open central portion 24. This plate member B is also generally flat and it has a pair of ears 25 and 26 which extend forwardly from the forward end portion 27 of the plate member B. The rearward end portion 28 of the plate member has a recess 29 formed therein directly ahead of the pin 22 when the plate B is superimposed upon the plateA with the ears 25 and 26 aligned with the channel members 1 1 and 12. These ears 25 and 26 are adapted to fit into the channels of these channel members 11 and 12 when the plate B is slid forwardly relative to the plate A and along the pivot shoulders 13 and 14. As best shown in FIG. 2, they readily slide beneath the overhanging lips 11a and 12a. 7

As best shown in FIG. 5, the plate member B also has a pair of upwardly and rearwardly extending handle support cars 30 and 31. A plurality of openings 32 formed in the plate member adapt that member to befixedly connected to the underside of the motor or engine E by bolts 33 so that the plate member B supports the engine E. An upstanding pivot bracket 34 is carried by the side portions of the plate B and serves to carry a clutch control member 35 for the clutch of the engine E.

When the two plate members A and B are connected, the drive wheel 36 of the engine E is positioned properly to drive the power transmitting pulley 37 of the lawn mower M by means of a V -be'lt 3.8.

Fixedly secured to the support ears 30 and 31 are a pair of guide handles such as 40 which converge upwardly and rearwardly and terminate in a handle grip 41. It will be noted that these handles pivot about a transverse axis of the pin 42 to a collapsed position as shown in FIG. 1 and that they carry controls 43 which are connected to the motor E in controlling relation by linkage 44.

In use a plate member A is fixedly secured to each of the various power-driven machines in superimposed relation similarly to the manner shown in FIG. .1 and by means of bolts which extend upwardly through the slots 7. Each of the machines is provided with such a plate. The single motor or engine E which is to be used in conjunction with these machines is mounted upon the plate B by means of bolts which extend through the openings 32 so that the plate B will support the motor or engine E. To secure the motor E to the machine the motor is lifted by the handle 39 and the lefthand side edge .of the plate B, as viewed from the rear, is brought to bear against the pivot shoulders 13 and 14 while the plate B is superimposed upon the plate A. By pulling to the left, as viewed from the rear, on the carrying handle 39, the entire engine is tilted to the left so that the drive pulley 36 will be disposed at a lower elevation than it will be after the connection has been consummated. The belt 38 is then placed in encircling relation to the pulley 36 and a powertransmitting pulley 37 and the motor E is then permitted to tilt back to horizontal position so that the plate B will rest squarely upon the plate A. The plate B is then slid forwardly so that the ears 25 and 26 slide into the channel members 11 and 12 of plate A and beneath the overhanging lips 11a, 12a of those channel members. The knob 23 is then turned so as to cause the pin 22 to move downwardly and forwardly and engage the plate B in the recess 29 provided for that purpose. By tightening the knob 23 the pin 22 will force the plate B forwardly and downwardly into close registering relation with the plate A. The downward and forward pressure upon the plate A causes the ears 25 and 26 to remain under the overhanging lips 11a, 12a and thus in cooperation with the pin 22 cause the plates A and B to be fixedly but readily removably secured to eachother.

To remove the engine E from such a machine and to apply it to another machine having a similar plate A, the user merely loosens the knob 23 several turns and then draws the plate B rearwardly by gripping the carrying handle 39 and pulling rearwardly thereon. The plates A and B thereupon immediately are separated and the plate B with its attached motor E can be transferred to a second and different machine. In this manner it is possible for one motor E to serve as the prime mover for a substantial number of different machines and the cost of a motor such as the motor E is saved for each machine except one. Thus a very substantial saving is effected and less storage space is required for-the same machines.

In addition to the saving in cost on the capital outlay required ordinarily for a motor for each such machines, our invention has other advantages. It will be noted that through the use of our mounting for interchangeable motors, the motor can be. moved quickly and with a minimum of inconvenience and at a substantial saving in time and expense.

The manufacturing cost of our mounting is relatively small since it may be formed of relatively inexpensive metal such as aluminum and is very simple to construct and Operate. Thus it can be seen that We have provided a novel mounting which makes it possible for the average home owner to gain the advantage of having a number of power-driven home maintenance machines while purchasing only a single motor.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and pro- Portion of the various parts without eparting om the scope of our invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A ground-traversing power driven machine ,comprising a power utilizing implement having a rotary driven member mounted thereon to transmit power to the implement, an adaptor plate mounted on said implement and having a substantially flat upper surface, said adaptor plate having forward and rearward end portions, a motor base plate having a substantially flat under surface adapted to be superimposed on the flat upper surface of the adaptor plate in registering relation therewith, said upper and under surfaces being substantially co-planar when the base plate is secured to the adaptor plate, said base plate having forward and rearward end portions, a transversely extending channel member mounted on one end portion of one .of said plates, the channel of said channel member facing said opposite :end portion of said one end plate, the other of said plates having a channel-engaging edge projecting outwardly from the end portion thereof and being slidable into channel-engaging relation within said channel member when said base plate is superimposed upon said adaptor plate, an instantly releasable clamping member shiftably mounted on the other end of one of said plates and being shiftable into clamping engagement with the corresponding end portion of the other of said plates to move said last-mentioned plate in a direction to urge said edge and channel member into snug fitting interlocked relationship and to thereby secure said plates together, said clamping member being instantly shiftable out of clamping engagement with said corresponding end portion to permit ready release of said plates, a motor fixedly mounted on said base plate in superimposed relation and having a rotary drive member thereon, guide handle structure secured to said machine and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, controls mounted on said handle structure and connected to said motor in controlling relation, and power-transmitting means connecting said drive member with said driven member in power-transmitting relation.

2. A power driven machine comprising a power utilizing implement having a rotary driven member mounted thereon to transmit power to the implement, an adaptor plate mounted on said implement and having a substantially fiat upper surface, said adaptor plate having forward and rearward portions, a pair of laterally spaced transversely extending channel members mounted upon the forward end portion of said plate, the channels of said channel members facing rearwardly and each of said channel members having a rearwardly extending overhanging lip, a motor base having a substantially flat under surface adapted to be superimposed upon the fiat upper surface of said plate in registering relation therewith, said upper and under surfaces being substantially co-planar when the base is secured to the plate, said base having forward and rearward end portions and having a pair of transversely spaced channel-engaging ears carried by the forward portion thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, said ears being slidable forwardly into channel-engaging relation within said channel members when said base is superimposed on said plate, clamping means secured to the rear end portion of said plate adapted to positively engage said base and secure the same and said ears in channel-engaging relation to securely fasten the base to the plate, a motor fixedly mounted on said base in superimposed relation and having a rotary drive member thereon, belt means adapted to encircle said rotary driven member and said drive member to connect the two in power transmitting relation, controlling handles secured to said base and readily removable from said plate with said base and said motor, and controls mounted on said controlling handles and connected to said motor in controlling relation and connected to said plate indirectly through said motor, said controls being removable from said plate with said base, motor and handles as a unit to enable the same to be applied to other power-utilizing implements having similar adaptor plates mounted thereon.

3. A power driven machine comprising a power utilizing implement having a rotary driven member mounted thereon to transmit power to the implement, an adaptor plate mounted on said implement and having a substantially flat upper surface, said adaptor plate having forward and rearward portions, a pair of laterally spaced transversely extending channel members mounted upon the forward end portion of said plate, the channels of said channel members facing rearwardly and each of said channel members having a rearwardly extending overhanging lip, a motor base having a substantially flat under surface adapted to be superimposed upon the flat upper surface of said plate in registering relation therewith, said upper and under surfaces being substantially co-planar when the base is secured to the plate, said base having forward and rearward end portions and having a pair of transversely spaced channel-engaging ears carried by the forward end portion thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, said ears being slidable forwardly into channel-engaging relation within said channel members when said base is superimposed on said plate, clamping means secured to the rear end portion of said plate adapted to positively engage said base and secure the same and said ears in channel-engaging relation to securely fasten the base to the plate, a motor fixedly mounted on said base in superimposed relation and having a rotary drive member thereon, guide handles secured to said base, and controls mounted on said handles and connected to said motor in controlling relation; and power-transmitting means connecting said drive member with said driven member in power-transmitting relation.

4. A power driven machine comprising a power utilizing implement having a rotary driven member mounted thereon to transmit power to the implement, an adaptor plate mounted on said implement and having a substantially flat upper surface, said adaptor plate having forward and rearward portions, a pair of laterally spaced transversely extending channel members mounted upon the forward end portion of said plate, the channels of said channel members facing rearwardly and each of said channel members having a rearwardly extending overhanging lip, a motor base having a substantially flat under surface adapted to be superimposed upon the flat upper surface of said plate in registering relation therewith, said upper and under surfaces being substantially co-planar when the base is secured to the plate, said base having forward and rearward end portions and having a pair of transversely spaced channel-engaging ears carried by the forward end portion thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, said ears being slidable forwardly into channel-engaging relation within said channel members when said base is superimposed on said plate, clamping means secured to the rear end portion of said plate adapted to positively engage said base and secure the same and said ears in channel-engaging relation to securely fasten the base to the plate, a motor fixedly mounted on said base in superimposed relation and having a rotary drive member thereon, guide handles fixedly secured to said cooperative attachment means, and controls mounted on said handles and connected to said motor in controlling relation; and power transmitting means releasably connecting said drive member with said driven member in power transmitting relation.

5. The structure defined in claim 4, wherein said guide handles are hinged intermediate their ends for movement about a transverse axis to a collapsed position.

6. A power driven machine comprising a power utilizing implement having a rotary driven member mounted thereon to transmit power to the implement, an adaptor plate mounted on said implement and having a substantially fiat upper surface, said adaptor plate having forward and rearward portions, a pair of laterally spaced transversely extending channel members mounted upon the forward end portion of said plate, the channels of said channel members facing rearwardly and each of said channel members having a rearwardly extending overhanging lip, a motor base having a substantially flat under surface adapted to be superimposed upon the flat upper surface of said plate in registering relation therewith, said upper and under surfaces being substantially co-planar when the base is secured to the plate, said base having forward and rearward end portions and having a pair of transversely spaced channel-engaging ears carried by the forward end portion thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, said ears being slidable forwardly into channel-engaging relation within said channel members when said base is superimposed on said plate, clamping means secured to the rear end portion of said plate adapted to positively engage said base and secure the same and said ears in channel-engaging relation to securely fasten the base to the plate, a motor fixedly mounted on said base in superimposed relation and having a rotary drive member thereon, control means connected to said motor in controlling relation, and

power-transmitting means connecting said drive member with said driven member in power-transmitting relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

